BRIDGEPORT -- City officials said Monday that the McCloud Group will be the construction manager for the planned 70,000 square foot Discovery Magnet School, a pre-K to eighth-grade multi-district school focusing on the earth sciences.

McCloud, a minority-owned firm based in Hoboken, New Jersey, was one of five finalists interviewed for the job and will be paid $1.05 million.

The school will be built near the Discovery Museum on Park Avenue, and will partner with museum in various ways.

There will be a formal announcement of the contract award later today.

McCloud will be responsible for such matters as controlling the scope of work, project scheduling, avoiding delays and disputes, procurement and enhancing project design and construction quality.

This is believed to be the first time that a minority-owned firm has been awarded a contract of this size for the city of Bridgeport, according to Mayor Bill Finch.